directly. Sit or stand. First, my congratulations,
but more about that later at our reception. We
began Lent with Forgiveness Sunday, asking forgiveness
of one another so that we could start the fast
with a clean conscience and a smooth path. of
understanding and acceptance of one another,
of the understanding that God's grace comes through
forgiveness, and that we are given peace when
we humble ourselves. Through all the days of
Lent, we were fasting, we were praying, we were
struggling to come to church and do all those
things. And we get to the end of Lent, and the
church... Brings us to the door of a grave. That's
what we see at the end of the 40 days. Well,
it's actually 50 when you get down to it. Because
next week is going to add some time. We come
to the door of the grave. The grave of Lazarus,
the friend of Christ. And we see this amazing
event in which Jesus has tarried. And the sisters...
Try to tell them how hurt they were. That he
waited and did not come. Because he could have
healed Lazarus if he was just sick. But he dies.
And Jesus does this amazing thing. He is not
a prophet. He doesn't say, oh God. By your power
raise this man. He does it in his own name. But
he says to his father. He says, I say these words.
so that those around me may know that you are
glorified, and the Son of Man is glorified in
this. Lazarus, come forth from the tomb. Today,
your baptism is that coming forth. You were baptized
not into the death of Lazarus. You were baptized
into the death of Christ, says St. Paul. And
Jesus, having died once, will never die again.
And a dead man does not sin. You can't sin if
you're dead. You're done with everything. But
you are alive in Christ. So, the epistle tells
us today what you should be doing. Giving hospitality.
Living righteously. Trusting in God. For now
you have a kingdom because you have died. in
Christ's death and risen in his resurrection
and been given the Holy Spirit. In fact, you've
just lived the whole history of salvation. You
went through the desert in Lent. You came to
the gates of the promised land. You became a
catechumen. You died in baptism. You rose with
Christ. You were given the day of Pentecost already.
And now you have a kingdom, says St. Paul in
Hebrews, that cannot be shaken. Remember, Christ
will sometimes delay. You will pray, and you
will ask God for something, and it won't happen.
It won't happen the way we lay it out for God
to do it. But of course, you know, our plans
are not God's plans. But you have a kingdom that
cannot be shaken. The Lord is my light and my
Savior. Whom then shall I fear? Whatever the
Lord does in your life, whatever he delays in
answering your prayer, trust in the one thing,
that he has the power to raise the dead. He that
believes in me, says Christ to Martha and Mary,
shall live and shall never die. There's more
than biological death. And now that you have
been given the life of the soul, That is your
soul united to the Holy Spirit. That is the Holy
Spirit who unites us to Christ. And that is Christ
that unites us to the Father. You have that kingdom.
It is yours, brothers and sisters. Read that
chapter from Hebrews again when you go home,
after you rest, after you come back from church,
maybe tonight even. And try to live the way St.
Paul has laid out. That's all I have to say right
now. This glorious day is a resurrectional day.
It's the day in which Christ shows his power
truly in a way that all those around him can
see. And then they start to follow him. And the
crowds will exclaim, Hosanna tomorrow. We'll
be celebrating Palm Sunday tonight and tomorrow.
in honor and in memory and also in participation
because we are also followers of Christ. No matter
what, we will not turn away from the Lord because
he will not turn away from us. He is my defender.
Of whom shall I fear? No one. To him be glory,
now and ever, to ages of ages. Amen. Let us say
with all our soul, with all our mind, let us
say, Lord have mercy. Lord Almighty, the God
of our fathers, we pray.